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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has declared its intention to implement a National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Jharkhand if it comes to power in the upcoming state elections, indicating a focus on “illegal immigration” from Bangladesh as a major campaign issue. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the BJP’s in-charge for the Jharkhand elections, stated this intent during a rally in Ranchi. He asserted that the NRC would be employed to identify and remove illegal immigrants from the state, with the party’s detailed manifesto due to be released shortly.
Chouhan emphasized that the elections in Jharkhand extend beyond mere power struggles and chief ministerial appointments. He framed the contest as a battle to safeguard the state, particularly concerning the safety and well-being of women, land, and food security. The BJP’s strategy appears to hinge on mobilizing voters around concerns about illegal immigration and its purported impact on the demographic makeup of Jharkhand.
The NRC, containing the names of Indian citizens, was last compiled in 1951. While Assam completed an updated NRC in 2019, the BJP’s proposal for Jharkhand marks a significant escalation of this contentious policy. Chouhan alleged that illegal immigration from Bangladesh has been altering the demographics of Jharkhand, citing a decline in the Adivasi population in the Santhal Pargana region from 44 percent to 28 percent. He further claimed that Hindu communities have also been affected by this trend.
Accusing the incumbent Hemant Soren government of providing refuge to illegal immigrants to cultivate a vote bank, Chouhan claimed that these individuals are obtaining Aadhaar cards and ration cards, posing a grave threat to national security. The BJP’s strategy appears to be targeted at addressing apprehensions among tribal communities who may be disillusioned with the party, given Soren’s five-month imprisonment before being released on bail. The party seeks to appeal to tribal voters by emphasizing its commitment to protecting their lands from illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
Chouhan, drawing a parallel to the contentious “love jihad” narrative frequently employed by the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), alleged that illegal immigrants are “trapping” Adivasi women in marriages to gain access to their lands. He went so far as to claim that some girls had been killed and dismembered, without providing any evidence to support these allegations. However, he clarified that those born in India are considered citizens, but individuals from other countries who reside illegally in India are a concern, particularly as they are allegedly protected by governments for political gain.
The BJP leader concluded by arguing that illegal immigration is detrimental to employment prospects in Jharkhand. This narrative, centered around the purported threat posed by illegal immigration, appears to be a central theme of the BJP’s campaign in Jharkhand. It remains to be seen how this approach will resonate with voters in the state and whether the BJP’s promises to address concerns about illegal immigration will be sufficient to secure victory in the upcoming elections.
Source: BJP will prepare NRC in Jharkhand if it comes to power: Shivraj Singh Chouhan